2023-06-19 04:00:00
Suddenly, the repurchase of the contract of Oliver Ekman-Larsson created a shock wave among the general managers of the National League. A major decision, involving financial commitments spanning eight years, such a decision was not expected from the decision-makers of the Vancouver Canucks.
On the other hand, we had decided in the case of the Swedish defender. He had no future with the organization, he no longer fit into the company’s recovery plans. But why act immediately? Why not wait until next year knowing full well that the chances of seeing the Canucks win the Stanley Cup are practically non-existent?
Ideal solution
An adviser made such a remark to me a few weeks ago about Brendan Gallagher, insisting on the fact that the Canadian did not have to rush certain decisions, since in his recovery program, we do not think of a participation in the playoffs next year.
The Canucks have chosen a solution that suits them immediately. They have identified players who can improve on the field a team that has failed in recent years. And to achieve the objectives set, it will take money. And where can the financial resources of the company be increased? It is by creating balance in the budget.
The Los Angeles Kings have taken another route to give themselves the kind of maneuver required in the hope of engaging in serious negotiations with some formations. They opted for the transaction market. No wonder we find them among the teams with an increasingly pronounced interest in Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Can this situation invite Kent Hughes to review his game plan? Can he also dwell on the possibility of buying out a contract and benefiting from a significant financial cushion?
Over the past few days, several players with a still interesting profile have appeared in the showcase.
The list of names
Some names of players who will be on the market:
Pierre-Luc Dubois: Montreal, New York, Los Angeles, Boston. Connor Hellebuyck: Los Angeles, Detroit, Buffalo. Alex DeBrincat: a dozen teams dialed Pierre Dorion’s number. Mark Scheifele: Boston. Erik Karlsson: getting out the big bucks. Brett Pesce: Buffalo, Edmonton, Colorado, Pittsburgh. Noah Hanifin: Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg. Travis Konecny: Detroit, Pittsburgh.
The discussions will no doubt increase for several reasons, particularly regarding the salary cap. We know very well that over the next few years, there will necessarily be an increase in financial commitments. The promise of Gary Betman made to the heads of the hockey sector of each of the teams has not been kept, quite the contrary.
Dead end
The commissioner has placed the decision-makers in an impasse, those who had planned a strategy on contract negotiations and also on the length of the pacts that we are willing to agree to foreground players.
For the moment, with the Ekman-Larsson case, which is intended as an example of the strategy to be deployed for the coming weeks, we must expect a lot of activity in the free agent market.
The list of candidates is interesting:
Josh Bailey: $5.33M Mike Hoffman: $4.50M (with compensation) Jeff Petry: $6.25M (to forget) Barclay Goodrow: $3.64M (he misses Yanni Gourde.) Taylor Hall: $6M (a mistake by the Bruins) Antony Beauvillier: $4.15M (what are the Canucks’ intentions?) Blake Wheeler: $8.25M (no longer has the necessary resources) Nick Leddy: 3 $.25M (think about it) Kevin Hayes: $7M (too expensive)
The intentions
In the plan concocted by the various teams, it will be necessary to monitor the Canadian to whom we lend intentions of testing the possibility of improving his selection rank during the first round.
Montreal, it is said, has inquired about what the Anaheim Ducks have in mind when it comes to selecting amateur players. In principle, they must choose second.
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